Milk & Cream

How Long Do Milks and Creams Last?

Although pasteurization makes milk safe to consume and extends its shelf life, some nutrients are lost during the process. This is due to the fact that pasteurization involves heating the milks to very high temperatures in order to kill microbes. The vitamins C and B6 are lost along with the enzymes lipase and lactase, which aid in the digestion of fats and lactose. Nevertheless, milk contains nine essential nutrients, making it one of the most healthful beverages on the market.

Yes, milk does a body good! In addition to calcium, milks are rich in vitamin A, vitamin B,vitamin D, protein, potassium, riboflavins, niacin, and phosphorous. And now, the term milk no longer just references animal milk, but includes extractions from various fruits, nuts and even grains. There are so many different types or milks available on the market, with the choices becoming more involved all the time.

Each type of milk product has a different expiration date, so explore the pages below that correspond to your favorite type of milk.

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What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Milk & Cream lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Milk & Cream.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Milk & Cream shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!